Cariyāpiṭaka 4

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The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood

The Chapter With Akitti

The Perfection of Giving (4th)

Mahāsudassana’s Conduct

1 “In the city of Kusāvatī,

when I was Lord of the Earth,

my name was Sudassana the Great,

a wheel-turning monarch of great power.

2 There, thrice a day,

I declared in one place or another:

‘Who needs what? Who wants what?

To whom ought riches be given?

3 Who needs an umbrella? Who is thirsty?

Who a garland? Who some makeup?

What person, being naked,

and will put on colorful clothes?

4 Who will take an umbrella on a highway,

who needs sandals, soft and pretty?’

Thus I had it proclaimed everywhere

morning and night.

5 It was not just in ten places,

or even a hundred,

but in many hundreds of places

riches were prepared for supplicants.

6 By day or by night

if a supplicant comes,

then having gotten all he wants,

he leaves with full hands.

7 I gave great gifts like this

for my whole life.

I did not give because I disliked riches,

or because I had a store set aside.

8 Suppose a person is sick.

In order to be free of sickness

having compensated the doctor with money,

they become freed from sickness.

9 Thus I, knowingly,

in order to fulfill without remainder,

to fulfill what is lacking,

gave gifts to supplicants

without clinging or reward,

for the attainment of awakening.”